Opinion 12/15/11

Letter: Post-Vote, Problems Need to be Addressed

TheDailyGrafton.com accepts signed letters to the editor -- and they don't have to be about the library. Letters may be emailed to jpaluzzi@mainstreetconnect.us.

Photo credit: Jennifer Lord Paluzzi (file photo)

GRAFTON, Mass. - TheDailyGrafton.com accepts signed letters to the editor. Letters may be emailed to jpaluzzi@mainstreetconnect.us.

To the editor:

Hi, I am Deb Adams of Grafton, I have a few comments about yesterday's election.

Thank you to all who voted - this was taxpayers at their best. Can you hear us now?

Now on a different note, we have some real problems that need to be addressed.

1. the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Cummings, allowing the Yes committee to enter the school talk to the children and send home flyers in book bags. It is unethical for politics to enter schools. I believe the State Ethics Board has been notified. The School Board needs to address this ASAP so it never happens again.

2. Finance Chairman abuse of power - manipulation of numbers to benefit a political issue.

3. Mr. Libby stating " The Grafton Library Is NOT an historical building."

4. The Library Budget is over $500,000 dollars and NO major maintenance has been done in at least nine years to the center library. The budget has a lump sum of over $300,000 titles expenses -- what are they?

5. The Library employs 14 people and is looking for two more positions. Maybe that’s one of the crowding issues.

6. Mr. Hedberg said 70,000 UNITS pass through the Grafton Library doors each year - that is 6,000 a month, over 50 an hour...(this is impossible on the best of days) this is units. When asked how many "Flesh and Blood humans" that is, he has no answer.

7. Nelson Library IS ADA compliant. It is child friendly, on a safe road, handicap accessible - it does have a handicap bathroom. ADDED Features NOT REQUIRED BY ANYONE EXCEPT CHILDREN: the ball park, the playground, the play house, a picnic area.

8. Mr. Hilding wants a new office - the SOUTH GRAFTON LIBRARY (now a thrift shop) is a perfect place for an office complete with a fireplace. It will be huge.

9. There are three vacancies coming up on the Board of Library Trustees. I think it's time we break up the monopoly -- new people are needed with fresh brains and open minds. Please consider taking this opportunity to get involved, if you are retired or just bored with night TV, you can make a difference.

10. There is also an opening on the Historical Society which I am applying for, apparently that committee has a lapse in memory every now and then.

11. George Peterson, shame on you for helping the yes committee with information - you knew you were tampering with a historical building - after all you've lived here your whole life, next to the HISTORICAL GRAFTON CENTER.

POINT OF INTEREST "SECRETARY GALVINS OFFICE -"THE GRAFTON CENTER LIBRARY IS UNDER THE PERPETUAL PRESERVATION LAW" WHICH MEANS YOU CAN NOT DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE ADVERSE AFFECTS ON THE BUILDING.....YES!

THE YES COMMITTEE MEMBERS KNEW IT!!!!!!

Thank you to all and may we all have a happy and safe Christmas Holiday with family and friends.

Deb Adams

More:

Comments

lilymaya1:

After reading all the comments over the library issue , it appears to me that many people who wrote comments are truly not in the Christmas spirit. Be positive and respectful or you will find nothing but coal in your stockings this year. You all live in a great community be thankful for what you have.

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 11:07pm.

Chris L.:

Indeed. I really don't see this business about accusations of lying, etc. going anywhere productive... Whether a "Yes" or "No" we can all agree that we like our town and want to move forward by making it a great place to live. Everyone's got their own different vision for what makes a great town... fortunately our democracy allows everyone to at least have a say in the process. It may not be perfect, but I'd say it worked in this case.

Submitted on December 19, 2011 - 3:33pm.

michael b.:

Still waiting for an apology from our Chairman Peter Adams for his LIE!

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 6:57pm.

Mr. Ed:

Definition of lie: An intentionally false statement.

I think EVERYONE following the library issue was aware of the basic numbers involved, what the town would be responsible for, and what the grant amount from the state was. Perhaps Peter would re-phrase that line in his letter if he were to write it again, but to accuse him of lying multiple times in various threads is over the top, in my opinion. Also, he clearly attributed his comments to him as an individual, not as a selectman.

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 2:42pm.

michael b.:

No I don't think its over the top to mistake 6.5 for 11 million. Whether you attribute his comments as an individual, he still is the Chairman of the Board of Selectman and should, at the very least, have his numbers correct. As you stated EVERYONE knew it was around 6, I guess not Mr. Adams

Definition of lie: something intended or serving to convey a false impression. Hmmm!

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 4:49pm.

AladdinsLamp:

This is for jpaluzzi: Now if I refereed to myself as Peter Adams (which I am not) and then apologized to michael b. above. Then I could understand your throw down. But I still don't understand your below thread.

As for micheal b. the library did cost over $11 million. And the towns share was $6.7 million. Right? Wrong! It cost $6.7 million @ X interest over twenty years, which means it costs almost twice that much to buy, or $13.4 million. So what's your point?

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 1:47am.

michael b.:

Point being Alladin he was incorrect with the towns portion!!

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 5:34pm.

michael b.:

"Other borrowing on the horizon, 11 million for the library" is what? A lie. He also did not allow Mr. Dowling a chance to correct another rumor or lie from a columnist in town concerning the land at Nelson. If we are looking for apologies where better to start then the Chairman. Thats my point!

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 9:19am.

Mr. Ed:

Town borrows $6 mill, the state borrows $5 mill. We are tax payers to both entities.The great state of Mass is in a $4 billion deficit position, so they borrow money too.

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 12:44pm.

AladdinsLamp:

Re: Mr. Dowling had a point, but he did not follow Selectmen protocol. 1) He solicited town legal opinion without the usual consent of the board. 2) He attempted to speak about a significant issue that was not on the Selectmen's agenda, that he and his associates create for legal posting 48 hours in advance of the meeting. If Mr. Dowling had requested the agenda item, it would have been put on the agenda. Meaning he was out-of-order of his committee's rules. So remarkably, Mr. Adams was just following the rules, of the executive board. And this is a good example of why first year Selectmen are not chairmen.

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 12:33pm.

Common Cents:

to Aladin's Lamp....

re: your Point #1.... Selectmen can solicit the advice of our town council anytime.
They don't need "permission" from the BOS.

Submitted on December 18, 2011 - 10:38am.

waltw:

Agree with michael b on this one... positioning the cost of the library as 11 million wasn't intellectually honest. Claiming it was justified because the entire cost over the life of the borrowing is 13M adds insult to injury.

Next time I try to sell my home, I'm going to present potential buyers with the home price inclusive of projected interest over a 30 year period and not explain this in the listing.

After all, if they are savvy buyers, they really should understand why my home is TWICE as expensive as comparable houses without having to explain it. After all, I'm being "honest" with them about how much it is going to cost.

It's a great approach... when it works in your favor.

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 11:53am.

Chris L.:

I don't think Nelson is central enough to serve as the sole library.

Idea: Why don't we plan on expanding the central library in phases, ie build 500K-1M worth every 5 years or something? The town could plan it out ahead of time so that it would be in a completed state between build phases (and cohesive overall). That way we could adjust accordingly as our needs and funds change as a town.

Just a thought.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 6:25pm.

Common Cents:

Wow....I can't believe what I just read.

The tone of this letter is completely hostile and aggressive and not to mention, factually incorrect. If you have such strong feelings, why not channel that energy in a positive manner to reform instead of chastising all that oppose your point of view.

I personally think that if you were so heated about this, you should have written the letter, got it out of your system and then shredded it.

Finally, I agree with one of the posts on this thread, if I see your name on a ballot, I could not vote for you. You have demonstrated how you handle difficult situations and I don't like your style.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 4:56pm.

Ed Prisby:

Neighbors -

Just moved here, but I don't get this vote at all.

Here's what I understand:

- You have a library building built in 1927 that is a little dilapidated, and is not ADA compliant.
- It would cost the not-at-all impressive sum of $11M plus to replace it.
- The town was offered $5M plus by the state to assist in the project (free money!)
- We would have essentially replaced an old building for half off.
- By not replacing the building now, we've assured ourselves that we'll replace it at some point later (how much longer can we expect an 84 year old building to last?), when it will be undoubtedly more expensive, with the possibility of no support from the state.

So, in essence, this vote seems penny-wise but pound foolish. I can easily envision a scenario where, five or ten years from now, Grafton is faced with replacing this building for between $15-20M, with no assistance from the state. So, instead of getting a nice new library (books are good, no?) for $5.5M or so, you'll end up paying three or four times as much later.

This is all to say nothing of the fact that it has never been cheaper to borrow money.

Now, I could be wrong about all that. But I don't think I am. What am I missing?

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 2:11pm.

C. Swett:

Ed,

Here's what I understand.

- You think that an $11+ million dollar expenditure on a project to quadruple the size of a library is "not-at-all impressive". If it's chump change then there should be no issue raising the cash through a series of cookie bakes and rummage sales.

- There is no such thing as "free money". By making that statement alone you are exposing your ignorance.

- Where do you come from that you think an 87 year old building is so old it must be replaced NOW.......Dubai? There are structures in this town that are a lot older than that sir.

Like you, I can easily envision a scenario where, 5 or 10 years from now, Grafton is faced with replacing this building for between $15-20M, with no assistance from the state. But in my scenario it doesn't even come up for a vote because people are smart enough to realize that technology is making it possible for us to get just as much information in the comfort of our own living rooms.

By the way, just because it has never been cheaper to borrow money doesn't mean we should all go out and spend like there's no tomorrow. I think that is what you are missing.

Submitted on December 18, 2011 - 1:29am.

AladdinsLamp:

How old is the White House?

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 7:17pm.

SBlumberg:

Just an interesting fact, that maintenance for the White House is $35,000 per day :)

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 8:25pm.

Mr. Ed:

Here are a few things:

An 84 yr old building, if properly maintained, can last 100's of years. Just have to plan and budget for it. Plenty of gorgeous 200+ yr old houses right here in town.

Most people don't use the library, and if they do, it's to pick up or drop off a book ordered from the C/WMARS system. Support was good with the few library goers in town, and the people in the center of town. After that, a sharp drop-off in support.

Technology is RAPIDLY making printed books obsolete, or certainly less relevant.

Money is cheap because we are in the middle of a recession and the un- and underemployment rate is north of 16%. Not a great time to borrow if you aren't working.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 4:03pm.

pegf:

Ok, just a note here. I use our library all the time. Occasionally I get books from CWMARS, but 90% of the time, I get a book from our library in the center of town. I run into plenty of people in the stacks looking for books to read as well. You may get your books via CWMARS, or maybe you never use the library at all, it isn't clear, but plenty of people in this town borrow books from our town library. Don't discount us.

Submitted on December 18, 2011 - 9:41am.

Mr. Ed:

I think asking how many people use the library is relevant if you are asking every taxpayer in town to pay for it. You are correct - I do not use the library, and most people I talk to do not either.

Submitted on December 18, 2011 - 1:17pm.

pegf:

Mr Ed,

I finally have time after the holidays to read this thread again. By your logic, because I have never had any children in the Grafton Public Schools and never will, I should not have voted for the new schools to be built. I support education, the schools, our police and firemen because it is for the public good. In the past people supported institutions not because they were going to use them, but because they existed for the use of all citizens and the public good.

Submitted on January 1, 2012 - 11:38am.

Momintown:

Mr. Ed, you could not be more wrong. The library is well used. And last hundreds of years?! Yikes! No we are going to end up paying more for our library, which is not an obsolete building for the general population. Quite the contrary, it is more relevant than ever.

And I echo the comment about Ms. Adams. If your name if on the ballot I will not vote for you, Historical Society or otherwise.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 8:05pm.

Mr. Ed:

What facts do you have to support your statement that the library is "well used"?

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 9:30am.

AladdinsLamp:

We need all the volunteers in town that we can get. Too many committees have vacancies. Debbie is a smart women and she will learn quickly. If she would like to to get on the Grafton Historic District Committee, she would an asset.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 8:49pm.

Ed Prisby:

From one Ed to another:

- I suppose a building can last 200 years if properly maintained. But a library is not a residential dwelling. It exists for the purpose of promoting education of town residents. As such, you want your library to be as close to cutting edge as possible, not quaint, historic, or antique.

In 1997, the MBTA ran a series of promotions in Boston, advertising the subway as "the country's oldest!" Ummmm... not something to be pround of, fellas. A library is the same way.

- Which brings me to the second point on supposed obsolesence.

While it's true that books sales have suffered over the past five years with the development of the Kindle and its competitors, that does not necessarily pose the end of libraries. Why?

Digital books threaten hard copy sales for two reasons: 1. ease of purchase; 2. ease of use. Why travel to a book store and buy a book, then store it indefinitely, when you can download it, right?

Libraries, however, operate on a different model. Library books have it over your Kindle because they're free. And limitless. And, as with digital copies, they don't clutter your basement. You return them when you're done.

On top of that, thinking of a library as simply a reservoir of musty books is very 20th century. The modern library is so much more. It's an educational center for all ages. It's a wi-fi hotspot. It's a research and reference center. It's a computer access center. It's an internet access center. It's a place to take out books, CDs, movies, and even vinyl records. It's a community forum in a town that has tripled in size since 1927. Where else but a library can you combine all the cool things you loved about being in school when you were younger, with none of the hassle of having to actually go to class?;)

If you're going to view a library as inferior to Amazon.com in terms of access to books, then of course you voted against this. But then, you've missed the entire point of what the library could have been.

Let me put it to you in more personal terms: I want my kids to want to read. Taking them to a library that they can be somewhat in awe of, and want to go to, would have gone a long way in that endeavor.

This was a no-brainer that now stands a tremendous lost opportunity that I suspect we'll come to regret.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 4:29pm.

Mr. Ed:

Many high-tech businesses operate in old mill buildings. A lot can be done with wireless internet. Not sure why this building couldn't be better utilized as such, but I suppose we can agree to disagree.

Library books are free? How so? The library building is paid for with tax revenue, the library operations are paid for with tax revenue, and the library buys books with tax revenue. I'm not sure that makes the book "free". The wi-fi, internet, computers ... most of us have these at home. Sure if would be nice to have these things available in a nice new shiny building, but I'd love to build an addition on my house too and renovate the kitchen, but hat's not happening either.

I think had the library expansion been more modest, and if the town actually had a long term capital expenditure plan, that this thing would have had a better chance of passing. As it is now, it's one over-ride/debt exclusion after another.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 4:52pm.

Ed Prisby:

Mr. Ed: No disagreement that this town should have a long-term capital management plan.

And sure, a lot of businesses operate in old mills. But comparing *this* plan to replace *this* library against a hypothetical plan to entirely renovate an 84 year old building is both unnecessary, and unfair.

Unfair because the hypothetically cheaper plan always wins. They win until they become concrete plans, more expensive, and less realistic. I've seen it before. The same conversation takes place everytime a public construction project is proposed that requires funding. There are always reasons, both real and imagined, not to raise taxes. But it's also unnecessary because the proposal in front of you was entirely reasonable. Brand new building. Half off. Can't beat that with a stick, my friend.

Yes, books cost tax dollars (which bought in bulk are cheaper than buying them individually, but whatever). But what's the point? Are you arguing against having a library at all? This is a growing community. It's affordability, as I well know, makes it attractive to young families. That attraction drives up real estate values. It creates wealth in your property that was there 10 years ago. Start suggesting that we invest less in the community, and interest in moving here goes away. Your property values diminish. "Everyone buy your own books" isn't a vision of Grafton's future I'd endorse.

Finally, it's "one debt exclusion override after another" because, frankly, Grafton's public facilities are old. They needed upgrading. Again, rising property values reflect interest in coming here, in part because of that investment. It's a shame the community stopped short at this library. And even more a shame that it'll cost us more later.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 5:18pm.

Mr. Ed:

I am not arguing against libraries - we had 3 of them - now we have one. Do I think they are a big driver in real estate values? Not as much as a new school, which I did vote yes for. Schools are important - everyone (well, almost everyone) uses the school system for a significant part of their life.

On that note, I am signing off. Trying to decide which of the free 36,000 classics to download onto my Kindle (ok, not free, the Kindle did cost $79) while I sit on my sofa.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 5:41pm.

Ed Prisby:

I highly recommend The Memory Chalet by Tony Judt.

Cheers.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 6:41pm.

Ed Prisby:

"that was there 10 years ago"

that WASN'T there 10 years ago.

*sigh* ... I need an editor :)

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 5:19pm.

Ed Prisby:

Also, I'm not sure what the unemployment rate has to do with not wanting to bond at a low rate now as opposed to a higher rate years from now, but it's worth noting that the unemployment rate in Massachusetts is now 7%.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 4:33pm.

Mr. Ed:

Google "underemployment" (or drive to the library and look it up). US underemployment rate is 18.40%. There are a lot of people not working, out of unemployment benefits, or working part-time that would like to be working full time. The "unemployment" rate is quite deceiving.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 5:37pm.

SBlumberg:

You are missing that there over $500,000 in private donations that were committed contingent on expanding the library, rather than fixing up that are now gone.

Also, that this is the second time in 10 years that we have said no to state funds (see Millbury's library) so state support in the future would probably be a long shot.

Other than that, I think you summed it up pretty well!

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 2:53pm.

Spl01519:

I don't know how the state works as far as giving out cash, but part of me thinks that the state doesn't care if we turned down the money. It isn't like it was a gift that was shunned, this is politics, it was cash available per conditions, we had a vote, said no, cash goes elsewhere. No one is losing sleep. I am sure if there is money to be had in the future, we will be allowed to apply for it, and if anything, because we haven't taken money in the past, we might be more eligible for it, but we will of course need to wait our turn in line.

Interesting bit I read from the No Vote article: "We also thank our individual financial supporters who saw the hope and vision that we had for Grafton's library. Their pledges of $500,000 are now null and void per their wishes."

Now why is this? Is it because a plan needs to be in place, or is it because these 'supporters' were supporting the library, only if an expansion went through? Seems if you are a supporter of the library, then your donation shouldn't die with a no vote on one expansion plan option.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 4:35pm.

Mr. Ed:

Exactly $500,000 in support from individual financial supporters, and each of those supporters made the pledge with the exact same stipulation, that the pledge was contingent on a Yes vote. Not sure I buy it.

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 9:05am.

KrisD:

Thank you very much Deb. The school thing is ridiculous. My daughter's 6th grade science class spent an entire period on the library issue. The teacher very adamantly PRO-library, telling kids things like we need it and not everyone can afford books. REALLY? Most of my books as a child came from yard sales and gifts. Very affordable. Don't forget the many 2nd hand books stores that offer great choices at great prices. Are we to pretend that there are no other options for people to read? There is overdrive.com where you can use your library card to read books for FREE. Barnes and Noble and Amazon often have special prices where you can get a book to read on line for as little as $3 and that doesn't kill a tree.

I spoke with many families that never use the library. I also reached out to people in other communities that had to have the huge public library. Heard some of those towns can only afford to keep the mega-library open a couple of days a week due to the operating costs.

Quite a bit of our society has a credit card mentality. Have to have it NOW, despite the cost of having it now. Just finance it. Unfortunately our local banks and credit unions join the cause and tell people to take a line of credit for a family vacation etc.

I believe very strongly in personal responsibility, and am sick of my taxes paying for things we don't need but some group insists we do. How about getting back to basics, saving for the future and being financially responsible? How about joining together not only at the town level but at the state and federal level to demand our money be treated with care and used appropriately.

Deb - Thank you for taking the time to educate us in more detail. We appreciate it.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 11:59am.

marcreece:

Great Post Deb Bravo, you forgot to mention also that a recount was denied when the vote to get this proposition on the ballot passed by only 2 votes.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 11:39am.

SBlumberg:

Thanks Deb for your letter. So now, when I see your name on a ballot I will know not to vote for you. Although I appreciate when ever anyone donates their free time to a cause, I like to support people who can be respectful of others and work well with people who have opposing viewpoints. Your letter above demonstrates that you are unqualified to do that.

We live in a democratic society and elections come and go. Some results i am thrilled with (the high school) and others leave me extremely disappointed (the library), but at the end of the day we all need to live together as a community and show each other good will - and this is not how we do it.

I am particularly concerned that a state ethics board would be contacted on the matter of the flyers. If Dr. Cummings has proven one thing, it is that he is accessible and that is not a way to work out differences of opinion.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 11:03am.

KrisD:

Please don't pretend the "yes" group was open to both views of conversation. I was deleted from the "yes" Facebook page immediately upon posting my opinion and when talking to "yes" supporters was chided with "People who can't afford an additional $80/year in taxes can't afford to live in Grafton". Even when bringing up fixed income of elderly was told that they should move if they couldn't afford it. The HS forgot to tell us about the ridiculous cost of moving across the parking lot. Are we supposed to blindly trust that we'll get the right costs this time?

Also, school systems have a tendency to push political issues that are not appropriate. I was actually proud of Grafton for staying away from the Obama songs that other schools were forcing on their student community. "Yes" flyers and classes focusing on the library vote with teachers wearing "yes" buttons are inappropriate. "No" people seem to have more common sense.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 12:16pm.

AladdinsLamp:

I'm hoping and it is my understanding, at this time, that there will be no letter sent to the State ethics board about the controversial letter. If a letter is sent, it is one persons letter and does not represent any committee's position.

I know as a person loosely associated with the NO campaign, that we are grateful for the voter turnout and we respect the hard work of our Superintendent of Schools and obviously we have no desire to mix apples and oranges. Our desire is only to continue to work to reopen our branch libraries.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 11:48am.

Comment:

Then come to a trustee meeting with a proposal rather than blaming 7 town volunteers for not being smart enough, doing enough . . . . you get the message.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 1:08pm.

AladdinsLamp:

I think you might be in for a treat, no its not me stopping by to say hi. But I've heard from the street, that because of the recent events a very qualified and well thought out gentlemen might be joining the library efforts.
A few more like him and good things most certainly will happen for the library.

Submitted on December 17, 2011 - 1:13am.

Comment:

I really don't put too much value on the 'word from the street'.

Submitted on December 19, 2011 - 10:33am.

jenvacca:

The town will still need to PAY for the compliance issue at the Main Grafton library. To make the South Grafton branch and office or technology space will take MONEY. To staff Nelson will take money. Will you vote for that? I wonder how much it will be and will laugh out loud when you all realize that our taxes will still go up. No matter how good these ideas are for the other branches, we will not get any state grant dollars to help us acheive them. How many of you no voters will vote in the dollars for these ideas?

When the compliance issue is addressed, I hope you are still pleased with your decision. You will pay more taxes anyway, but you will receive no additional space or resources for it. The ADA compliance must and should be addressed immediately, had we done it in the manner the YES campaign proposed, we would have gotten a library to satisfy the town for years to come. Now we get LESS library and unjust attacks from the NO campaign against our hard working elected officials and School Superindentent. (the flyer only said to vote, no position was taken- it was harmless... a flyer like that should go out before EVERY election. How many people in town? 17 or 18,000? how many voted??? 3 almost 4 thousand??)

Grafton is a town that has undergone enormous growth. While growing up in a neighboring town, we would just drive through Grafton to get somewhere else. There were few business here, mostly only Wymans, and the population was small. Now, I am happy and proud to call Grafton my home. I have lived here for nearly 12 years and will raise my children here. However, a growing town has responsibilities-all town services that were designed for a smaller population must be addressed.

We have gotten quite a bit for our tax dollar in Grafton, all in response to the growing population. We have our new Police station, Fire station, and our new school will soon be ready to house our enormous student population. A larger and more adequate library was the necessary next step and we have missed an enormous opportunity to receive 5 million dollars to help us build it. To get that 5 million, we needed to spend on average, under $80 a year???Shame on Mr. Peterson and Dr. Cummings you say?

I get it, you are sick of saying yes to taxes so you have drawn a line in the sand. However, the decision to vote no was fiscally irresponsible and based on propaganda spread by a unethical group. We never had to pay 11 million as was stated, the libraray never had a "cafe" as was also "rumored". All of Grafton has lost.

Submitted on December 15, 2011 - 5:01pm.

MadSalty:

Actually it did. The 'Friends cafe' was to be located on the lower floor. You can see the site plan if you go to graftonlibrary.org click 'GPL Expansion & Renevation' and scroll down.

Submitted on December 15, 2011 - 8:56pm.

Mr. B.:

Good one :)

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 7:47am.

dewey's friend:

The most current plans, posted in the Library, do not have a cafe. There is a room for reading on the first floor that might have had a coffee machine for those who wished to drink while on their computers Most libraries do not allow beverages in the same areas as computers, books and printed materials. My Dad killed his keyboard with an upended glass of scotch - the Library was hoping to prevent such disasters while still acomodating those who enjoy computing and a good cup of java..It also has room for the "Down Under Bookstore" that raises the money needed to purchase passes for the various museums and local attractions. A coffee machine does not equate with a cafe. As stated many times these are schematic drawings subject to change and updating. Too bad no one took the time to find out the answers to these questions before they voted.

Submitted on December 15, 2011 - 11:02pm.

Mr. B.:

If the library website itself is inaccurate, how is believing the library supporters own info unethical? Case in point, not many go to the library and rely on their info from computers. Then you fault folks for believing you. That's rich.

Submitted on December 16, 2011 - 7:54am.

AladdinsLamp:

Just an FYI,
In fact, the library trustee's line item payroll expense at town meeting went up the year following the closing of the branch libraries. Scott Browne pointed this out at town meeting and the library director could not respond to his 3 time repeated question. (It's all on tape for posterity). So you see jenvacca, monies can be easily moved back into the branch libraries. Sure it will require reshuffling of hours at the center library, but in fact, the budget is adequate to reopen both branches.
As for our town's financial loss because we did not accept the $5 million to build a 29,000 square foot building, I can justify that good decision by some simple truths. Printed in the Wall Street Journal, today, on its front page, it showed printed consumer books going from 1.6 billion copies in 2008 to less then 300 million copies for 2011, that's a 6 fold decline in 4 years! And Amazon today, just announced that it is selling more then 1 million Kindles per week this holiday season.
So you see jenvacca, the town wisely dodged a wasteful bullet here. We simply saved our money for the next tax issue that comes up this February at the next special town meeting.

Submitted on December 15, 2011 - 7:02pm.

Our Members
Come First

Most Popular Stories

Local Hero

Letter: Post-Vote, Problems Need to be Addressed

Read Next In Opinion

Comments

Today's Weather

Fri 5/18

Sat 5/19

Sun 5/20

Mon 5/21

Tue 5/22

Wed 5/23

Get Our Daily Email

Thank you for signing up.

Share This Page

Our MembersCome First

Most Popular Stories

Local Hero

Letter: Post-Vote, Problems Need to be Addressed

Opinion

Read Next In Opinion

Comments

Sign In

Forgot Your Password?

Join the Discussion About Your Town!

Sign In

Join the Discussion About Your Town!

Our Members
Come First